Hurricane Erin has moved on, but its impact on the Outer Banks remains. Dare County officials have launched a staged reentry process for residents after mandatory evacuations were ordered ahead of the storm. The region is no stranger to weather disruptions — last year alone, NC-12 was shut down at least three times due to winter storms, with each overwash bringing both challenges and costs. Photographer Jenni Koontz spent last week along the coast capturing images of Erin’s aftermath. She joined Jeff Hamlin to share what she saw and what the storm left behind.

Jenni Koontz's Instagram, where you can see their work: https://www.instagram.com/epicshutterphotography/?hl=en